Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Expedition Poles > Owner Review by David Bradish

BLACK DIAMOND EXPEDITION TREKKING POLES
BY DAVID BRADISH
OWNER REVIEW
February 18, 2007

TESTER INFORMATION

I started hiking in my teens in Arizona and New Mexico, primarily focusing on winter hiking Since 1991 I have hiked a lot with my brother-in-law Ray mostly in California's Sierra Nevada range, and the southern mountains. In winter I bring as much gear as necessary to be safe and comfortable. For 3 season I try to follow the principles of ultra light.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Black Diamond
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.bdel.com
MSRP: US $79.95
Listed Weight: Not given
Measured Weight: 22.2 oz (629 g)
Length: 125 cm/49" comes in 140 cm/55" also
Shortest length: 57 cm/22.5"
Longest length: to the stop marks 127 cm/50"
Limited Warranty: For climbing and backcountry ski gear we warrant for one year from purchase date and only to the original retail buyer (Buyer) that our products (Products) are free from defects in material and workmanship. For headlamps our warranty is for three years. If Buyer discovers a covered defect, Buyer should deliver the Product to us at the address on the back cover. We will replace such Product free of charge. That is the extent of our liability under this Warranty and, upon expiration of the applicable warranty period, all such liability shall terminate.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The Expedition Poles are three piece trekking poles that telescope into themselves to make them compact for ease of carrying. They are made of aluminum with a sharp carbide tip at the end. The upper shaft of aluminum is colored blue. The two lower sections are shiny aluminum.

The sections are locked together with flick locks. They are plastic or nylon locks that have a lever that uses a cam action to pinch closed the lock when the lever is folded into the shaft. The locks are black.

Each section of shaft has markings for adjustment. They go from 85 cm to 125 cm and are every 5 cm apart.

At the end of each pole is a carbide tip. It can be pulled out with pliers to replace it. Just above it is is a 3/4 basket to keep the pole from pushing through the snow.

At the top of the poles are the grips which are made of two kinds of rubber-type material. (Grippy elastomer I have been told.) The black material is soft and gripable. The blue material is harder and kind of slick. A webbing strap is attached to the top of the grips. The strap adjusts through a plastic buckle.

FEILD USE

I took the Expeditions on three trips over two and a half years in the Bristlecone Pine Forest in California's White Mountains. I also used them many times in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. The best trip was to Shasta in 2004. The highest elevation was 13300'/4054m and they have been on all kinds of snow and ice. This picture is coming back from White Mountain in 2005.

FIELD EXPERIENCES

I used to use some trekking poles from REI but did not like how they would keep slipping their adjustment when I used them in snow. My wife's brother Ray was having the same problem and found us the Expedition poles. They work great. I have never had a pole slip again since I got these. The locks are easy to use, even with thick gloves on. It is very easy to reset the length, but I leave them at one setting most of the time.

The tips are very sharp and stick in ice and iced-over snow well. I have never had to replace them.

I don't really use the straps much. Only if I am going downhill on skis so I don't drop one. They are easy to adjust , but I leave them at the widest setting.

The aluminum shafts are very strong. I use them as an anchor sometimes to keep my sled from blowing away. One time I got up in the morning and they were frozen into the snow so hard that I had to use an ice axe to get them out of it. I have also used them this way to tie lines to my tent.

The grips are comfortable to use. I almost always wear gloves but the times I did not the grips were fine and I did not slip.

The baskets that came with them work well. They have teeth under them that grab in packed snow.

My regular poles are very light weight because they are made of carbon fiber and the Expeditions feel very heavy compared to them. Ray has some poles he is testing that are carbon fiber and have the flick locks. I might have to get some too.

Pros

Do not slip
Easy to adjust
Strong

Cons

Heavy

Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Expedition Poles > Owner Review by David Bradish